After three years and thousands of images entered in our annual Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest, you might be tempted to think we’ve shown you all there is to see at Missouri’s 87 state parks and historic sites.

Think again. We’ve only scratched the surface of the fun and adventure awaiting you and your family. So, for a fourth consecutive year, Rural Missouri is proud to team up with Missouri State Parks for this contest.
Open only to amateur photographers, the contest features five categories for adults and one category specifically for photographers age 17 and younger. You may enter by mail or online using the website, Flickr.

A first-, second- and third-place photograph will be selected in each category and published in the January 2015 issue of Rural Missouri. Photographs will be judged on sharpness, composition, lighting, creativity and adherence to the category’s theme.
Deadline to enter is Oct. 31, 2014. Good luck!

1. Capture the Beauty – Missouri’s state parks are blessed with an abundance of natural beauty: rolling prairies, rugged mountains and scenic rivers. Entries in this category should capture scenes worthy of a postcard.

2. Spend the Night – How do you pass the time when you’re “roughing it?” S’mores with the kids? Music around the campfire? Photograph the fun when you’re camping in a state park to win this category.

3. Catch Your Limit – Few moments are as thrilling as that first tug on your line, the tip of your pole bending toward the water. State parks offer unmatched opportunities to catch an array of game fish. Chronicle your catch to land the prize in this category.

4. Discover the Past – From covered bridges and mills to the homes of famous Missourians, history is everywhere in Missouri’s state park system. Creatively photograph that history, and you could be a winner.

5. Hit the Trails – With more than 800 miles of trails, Missouri’s state parks offer a perfect venue for your next hiking, biking or equestrian adventure. Entries in this category should feature scenes captured along a trail at a state park or historic site.

6. Share the Wonder – Only photographers age 17 and under are eligible for this category. Subject matter may include other contest categories or any state park activity, wildlife or scenery. Photographer’s age is required.

Rules

Prizes

1. Photographs must have been taken at one of Missouri’s 87 state parks or historic sites. For a complete list of parks, visit www.mostateparks.com.

2. Photographs must depict activities that conform to Missouri State Parks rules and regulations. Photos depicting unauthorized activities will be disqualified.

3. Amateur photographers may enter up to five photos in a category but no more than 15 photos total for the contest. Do not enter the same photo in more than one category.

4. All photographs must either be uploaded to the “2014 Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest” group on Flickr (www.flickr.com/groups/mo-snapshots14) or entered as unmounted, 8-by-10-inch prints. Prints will not be returned.

5. A completed entry form must be attached to the back of every print entered. Online entries must be tagged with the appropriate category name. A caption containing the title of the entry and the name of the park where the photo was taken also should be included. Omitting any of this information may result in disqualification.

6. Photos may be color or black and white. Those that have been digitally altered beyond basic editing and toning will not be accepted.

7. Photographers may win no more than one first-place prize. Winning photographs from previous year’s Missouri Snapshots photo contests are ineligible for the contest.

1st Place – Each first-place photographer will win a Missouri State Park Getaway Package that will be tailored to the winner’s recreational interests. Valued at $500, the package will include lodging, meals and a state park activity.2nd Place – Each second-place photographer will win a $100 Missouri State Parks gift card.

3rd Place – Each third-place photographer will win a a $50 Missouri State Parks gift card.